Abe wins Tokyo despite rating decline

The Liberal Democratic Party and its ruling coalition partner, New Komeito, on Sunday won a majority in Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, which also has a number of regional and smaller parties. The LDP itself won 59 seats, replacing the Democratic Party of Japan as the largest party in the assembly.

Since the election to the Tokyo assembly is seen as a precursor to the outcome of Japan's upper house election on July 21, the ruling coalition's victory next month seems imminent.

The Tokyo election was the first verdict of voters on Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration since it took office in December. The Tokyo election victory should also come as a shot in the arm for Abe, especially after a Jiji Press survey showed that public support for his cabinet had dropped to 57.4 percent, the second consecutive month of decline and the first below-60-percent approval rating.